Tynstar17
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Posts: 15
(6/16/04 2:21 pm)
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Code Scylla
***Warning, contains some mildly offensive language***
Dec 2003- Pentagon US Army Wing, Washington DC
Jill Thompkins sat in a stiff back wooden chair in the waiting area. The chair was Spartan and matched the rest of the office foyer. Which was to say it was damned uncomfortable and not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It was perfect for the man who ruled here. Maj Gen Jeremy Irons. His reputation was well known through out the DOD. He was one mean SOB and he didn't care who he used to get the job done. The Marines had a nick-name for the Army General... "The Meat Grinder". Irons earned it during the first gulf war. As a Brigade commander, he sacrificed two tank companies to draw out the Medina Guard where the Air Force and Artillery could dismantle them in grand fashion. It was deemed a major victory but the cost of two companies wasn't a concern to Irons. He bagged a whole division of Republican Guard.
Jill glanced over to the orderly seated at the steel desk. He was a two striper so she thought he must be a Corporal. She couldn't remember the Army rank structure but thought that put him at the E-4 level and a beginner non-com. A phone line light lit up and he picked up the phone.
"Yes , sir" he answered and then he hung up the phone. "You can go in now Lieutenant". ((* A Navy LT equates to an Army or Air Force Captain O-3)) "Hope you come out intact."
She raised an eye as he added the second comment. Jill Thompkins wasn't afraid of anyone. She appeared an average looking woman. Standing five foot, 10 inches and of medium build, she was used to her affect on people. She had non-descript brown hair that touched her collar and Hazel eyes. The face was plain and would never win her a beauty contest but that was never in her plans. She was a woman who was confident. She was good at what she did. She knew it and didn't mind letting others know it too. Other pilots would razz her when they first met her. She wasn't pretty enough to be a "hot date" and so they wouldn't hold back on giving her a hard time. That always stopped when she waxed them in one on ones or two on ones in the air. She was damned good when she strapped on a fighter.
"Thanks. Oh and that chair, corporal.... its a pain in the butt." She remarked dead pan.
The Corporal laughed in spite of himself. The woman had a surprising light Alto voice for a tall woman and he appreciated her sense of humor.
"Yes Ma'am, General's orders. Oh and Lieutenant... good luck Ma'am." He answered. And he meant it.
She squared her shoulders and knocked once on the door, opening it without waiting for a reply. She walked up to a big steel desk that looked like it was made in WW2 and stood at attention.
"LT Thompkins reporting as ordered, sir." She said with neither excitement or concern.
The gray haired General regarded her for a moment. This was a surprise as he didn't normally encounter Junior Officers that weren't afraid of him. He watched her and let her stand at attention for another minute.
"Be seated Lieutenant" He barked.
She sat and crossed her legs placing her folded hands over her right knee. She knew that the Army hated Navy Whites and had worn the white skirt and blouse on purpose. She sat impassive and waited for him to begin the conversation.
"Thompkins, I understand that you aren't overly happy with these orders?" he stated. "Why not?"
"Permission to speak frankly General?" She asked.
"Granted"
She sat forward in her chair letting both feet plant on the carpet.
"General, I got screwed and I'm not too happy about it."
She could see the red start at his neck and move up his face as anger took hold. "Explain!"
"Well sir, I had TPS ((Test Pilot School)) orders in hand and then I got them canceled and told to report here."
His brows furrowed, "And...?"
"Well General, doing some joint tour isn't going to get me what I want." She stated
"And whats that Lieutenant?"
She drew a breath and answered, " Sir, TPS would either get me a shot at NASA or nail me down a command slot. Now Im going to get buried in some joint thing and will be way behind my year group."
"Frankly Thompkins I could care less. Your chances making it into NASA are squat. Your math aptitude is weak and you don't kiss A$$. Lieutenant, do you know who Admiral Givens is?
She nodded. "Yes Sir, he is on the Joint Chiefs."
"That's right" he growled. "And he will write your fitreps ((fitness reports-an annual report that determines promotion based on performance)) on this tour! That means if, and I do mean IF you don't screw the pooch, you will be advanced ahead of grade, will not do a department head tour and will most likely go straight to your XO tour ((Squadron Executive Officer)) tour after this assignment. Do I have your attention now Lieutenant?"
She swallowed as she thought. Irons was a tough SOB but he sure knew what buttons to push. This fish he just waived in front of her face was a serious brass ring. It would push her three years ahead of her year group ((*Year group is the year/date of commissioning. You compete with other officers for orders and promotion who were commissioned at the same time)).
"Yes, Sir, damned straight you do!"
Irons nodded as he secretly smiled. He liked this cocky brunette. He pushed her button and got the result he wanted. And maybe she might make it through and get her prize. He hoped so. They needed commanders who had guts. And her lack of brown nosing would hurt her career if she didn't get some help.
"Alright Lieutenant, this is compartmentalized TS ((top secret)). You are being assigned to Project: Red Spear.....
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March 2004, Nevada Desert
The heat was oppressive. Whom ever said its a dry heat was a serious idiot. A tech took off Jill's Helmut and the worst of the heat hit her like a right cross to the jaw. Removing the Armour in the desert heat was almost as fun as getting your teeth drilled on. She immediately began to sweat as the tech started to unfasten the arms and chest pieces.
"Congrats Ma'am. Looks like you passed all your field tests and this will be the last time you have to wear Medusa."
"Thanks" She said tiredly. "It will be good to get a custom job. My butt is getting rubbed raw in this can!"
Jill had just passed final field checks and had passed with flying colors. The DoD had found that Pilots had a great sense of Kinesea.. that thinking in three dimensions that constituted spatial aptitude. She found her time in "Medusa" to be interesting but she was looking forward to her next step; being fitted with a custom suit. Three grueling months of exams, tests and training had left her ready to kiss Medusa goodbye forever and to get to her fleet suit. The Geeks hadn't yet told her what she would be flying next. Her pilot's love of new challenges had her eager to get onto her next "ride".
Just then an Air Force SGT walked up to the pair. "LT Tompkins? Ma'am you are to report to Col Hawkins ASAP."
"Alright Sgt. Tell the Colonel I will be there as soon as I get out of Medusa and showered and changed."
"Yes Ma'am"
After a quick shower, Jill put on her flight suit and headed over to Hawkins' office. She guessed he was OK for a typical desk jock. At least he didn't back stab like most of them. She walked into his office and stood at attention while he finished his phone conversation. He nodded to her and waved her over to sit in a chair. He hung up the phone and picked up her training jacket ((folder with training records)).
"Congratulations Jill, those were some of the highest scores we have had yet on the "course". He said.
"Thanks, Sir."
"I've got your new orders cut. You will get fitted out in your new suit and will do a brief orientation. After that you will report to your operational unit... Alfa. It is currently based in Paragon City and assigned to a group known as Project Reborn."
"Project Reborn sir?" She asked
"Yes its a group of mixed heroes. They are a mishmash of heroes spanning several decades. Currently they are being lead by Black Atom. As you might have heard, the Atom was a very bad seed. Now he has changed sides and is using his... talents... to protect Paragon. I'm sure you will use your discretion and be on guard when working for this rehabilitated hero."
"Yes Sir " she nodded.
"Jill, we have a new design that you will be assigned to..." Hawkins taps a button on his desk and a projector comes to life as the lights in his office dim. "We call her 'Scylla'. Scylla as you might have known was a guardian sea monster of the straights of Scicilly. She was a nymph that was transformed into a monster. And she was famous for attacking Odysseus's ship in the Odyssey. Now pay close attention... we have incorporated the fields used by the Rikkti and the suit can project them onto various targets. It also incorporates the latest in energy blasts....."
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June 2004, Paragon city, Steel Canyon
Jill walked into the Reborn HQ. and looked around at the surroundings. "Not bad" she thought to herself. She wandered through the offices until she heard the sound of voices. She followed them until she came to a lighted office with two men inside. Both were wearing combat fatigues with the urban camouflage of gray and white splotches. One of the men was sitting on a sofa. He was a big boy she thought to herself and his shaved head reflected the halogen office lights. The other man seated behind the desk was a tall lean man. He had circles under his eyes but he had laugh wrinkles around his mouth and eyes.
The man behind the desk took in Jill's Khaki uniform and her gold aviator wings on her left breast. "Hi Navy," he said with a smile. "I'm Sgt Ramirez and that there.... is also Sgt Ramirez... Antonio." He indicted the large man on the sofa who made a small wave.
"You can call me Easy. I drive Fenris while Bull there drives Gorgon."
She smiled at the friendly pair. "I'm Jill Thompkins and I FLY Scylla." She held out her hand to Easy.
Easy stood up with a grin and grasped Jill's hand in a strong grip. "Glad to meet you, L-T. Let me show you the morgue ((the storage lab where they keep the suits)). Scylla just arrived yesterday and they are warming her up now. She will be ready to FLY tomorrow."
Jill laughed and instantly took a liking to the two "Mules". "OK Army, that will be great. And since you two will be guarding my butt... the name's Jill. And after we go to the Morgue... how about I buy you two "Mules" a few frosties and you can fill me in on the Op plan."
Easy and Bull looked at each other and both barked a laugh. "Sounds great Navy!". It was good to see the new pilot wasn't another uptight 90 day wonder. Maybe this one would be OK!
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